Vinyl top-keep it or take it off? need opinions.

[elanmars]

The car I have right now has a vinyl top...I could dye it black to make it look a little better. But the car right now sits outside as I don't have a garage, PLUS it's my daily driver. Louisiana weather is not too kind when it comes to rain and I'm afraid water could start collecting and rusting underneath? is that a common problem?

I thought about pulling it off if that's the case and just color match the roof to the body, maybe I'd even leave the trim towards the back too.

[jaak]

Everyone has there own opinions, me personally I love vinyl tops on 2nd gen Chargers...the roof line is just made for it, makes it look classy too.
So my vote is to keep it.

Jason

[Silver R/T]

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,68050.0.html

[AKcharger]

Keep the vinyl top 

[Mike DC]

The dealer-installed painted vinyl tops (textured black paint and a pair of faux seams glued on, rather than the full vinyl covering) were a much better protection from rust than the original tops.  Kind of ironic since they did it that way to save a buck. 

[twodko]

IMO if its on the build sheet it stays on the car.

Tom

[tan top]

IMO if its on the build sheet it stays on the car.

Tom

   

[Charger RT]

I like them and have left mine on even though it is splitting and 42 years old. As far as rust mine has been inside for 22 years but was splitting before that. I just pour a ton of vinal conditioner on it and make sure alot gets in the cracks. I say keep it.
Tim

[Patronus]

vinyl tops 

[elitecustombody]

I'll go against the grain, get rid of that rust trap

[tan top]

I'll go against the grain, get rid of that rust trap

to be honest  ,  for a true daily driver in all weathers / all through the year ! &  not be looking to sell the charger on in a year or 2 !!  i would also think Long & hard about removing the vinyl & welding the chrome / stain less  trim holes up also ,  one less potential water leak  

[69DodgeCharger]

I'll go against the grain, get rid of that rust trap

to be honest  ,  for a true daily driver in all weathers / all through the year ! &  not be looking to sell the charger on in a year or 2 !!  i would also think Long & hard about removing the vinyl & welding the chrome / stain less  trim holes up also ,  one less potential water leak  

Even though my car had no rust issues I still deleted the vinyl top because I knew it would be .
A. An added expense
B. No qualified installer
C. Potential to rip, shrink, fade or otherwise screw up
D. A full time 24/7 rust promoter

Even though I canned mine I think 2nd Gens look better with them, but only when they are light colored cars with black tops. The dark color cars with light or same color tops just don't look very good. And white tops just don't look very good on any color.

[my1st68charger]

I just bought a vinyl top yesterday from national moparts,they told me I have to use a certain glue to install it.What is the glue called?Is there defferent kinds of brands?Whats the best for this?

[elanmars]

I'll go against the grain, get rid of that rust trap

to be honest  ,  for a true daily driver in all weathers / all through the year ! &  not be looking to sell the charger on in a year or 2 !!  i would also think Long & hard about removing the vinyl & welding the chrome / stain less  trim holes up also ,  one less potential water leak  

yeah I'm afraid of the rust and I rather prevent it. If removing the vinyl top means not having to worry about rust on the roof, then that's great. I rather spend the money now to take it off and color match it, than down the road paying for rust repair also.

It is a white top anyway-which is an oddball look, has a certain charm to it...white top, white car with black stripe (it's not a real r/t, so no worries there folks).

[oldrock]

one more vote against vinyl for same reasons others have mentioned. The old vinyl roof really rusted the roof on my sons car bad. TOok alot of work to get it back in shape so now it is just painted. I did mig weld in the seam on the pillar first just to make sure it was in good shape.

[Nacho-RT74]

I'm byassed... keep the vinyl.

one thing to consider... rust began because on factory, roofs to vinyl top cars were just primered but not painted. Being painted now will be a diff story.

Need a good metal prepare job of course. I love vinyl tops and I'm getting rust right now simply because I have not made a GOOD surface prepare job, on an already rusted roof when I got. But nex time will make the BEST JOB AS POSIBLE to keep it.

[jeryst]

Personally, I think that dark colored cars look good with a vinyl top, but high impact colors look better without them.
White top on a white car looks pretty cool, however. Red stripe would really set it off.

If you want to put a new top on, just use POR-15 or Rust-Bullet on your roof, then paint it, then put the top on. It should last forever that way.

[TylerCharger69]

This is a question that i feel is basically a poll to help with your decision.  Whatever you, yourself prefer is what counts.  You will get mixed opinions on this topic.  What it all boils down to is what makes you happy.  If you ask me?....Well....some look awesome with it....and some look awesome without it.  Maybe use a paintshop program to help you decide....really all i can tell you.  If you are still undecided....well..paint the car and see how you like it without it.  If you decide you want it....you can always put it on at any time.  But if you put it on  and decide you don't like it....well...more time and money will be the results to remove and refinish.   

[Ghoste]

Take the time, finish it right and then put that top back on. 

[bull]

Usually I would say get rid of the vinyl top because I like the looks of 2nd gens better without them and they are moisture traps. But since yours is a driver it would be quicker and easier to prep the roof for rust prevention and reinstall vinyl rather than simply take the old one off. The roof is a big, flat body work nightmare unless it was prepped for paint at the factory. In your case I would rip off the old one, coat the roof in a rust converter and then prime/paint it with the best rust seal you can get without doing any body work. Put a new vinyl top on and it'll look great.

[68blue]

I'm replacing the vinyl top on my 68. The pearl white top will be on HOK KBC05 Blue. Hope the combination works as it's too late to change my mind.

[chargerjy9]

IMO if the build sheet has it on then keep it. the greenhouse was designed so that a vinyl top would look right on it. the 2nd gen Chargers design intent was to be an upscale midsize sporty car. it is a platform ripe for upscale profit making add ons. if you want a stripped down  midsize hot rod muscle car, that's why Ma Mopar did the Roadrunner.  with out the top the 2nd gen looks like it's less expensive brother, the top sets it apart. I say leave the top on.

[paironines]

Keep it on. They are only a minor headache on a car that sleeps out of the weather.

[69_Charger_RT]

I say keep the vinyl top 

[Silver R/T]

Charger reminds me F50 from the back. F50 doesn't have any vinyl on it, does it? Looks how nice it looks